Welcome to the conversation!

We started a conversation about "boxes" that people put themselves and others in, and I'd like to sort of continue that. Here is something I wrote a while back - a few thoughts about what magic means to me as a writer (the part in violet). 

I like all fiction genres, but when I write I am almost always drawn to fantasy fiction: I love inventing new worlds or imagining concepts beyond the "reality" of this world. In fantasy fiction, magic often plays an important role, whether we talk about divine beings, supernatural beings, or wizards and sorcerers. Magical powers have fascinated humanity since... forever... and whether magic is a real thing or not is irrelevant for a fantasy fiction writer - because it's all made up anyway. So, what is magic?

Magic represents the desire to make impossible - possible, to overcome all limitations and overstep all boundaries, in order to reach absolute freedom, which is otherwise always compromised by the rules and laws that apply to the "ordinary". Magic defies all that by giving us the freedom to create the kind of reality we wouldn't have otherwise dared to dream of. In a way, then, magic also gives us permission to dream beyond what has been dreamt before. And dreaming is the birthplace of originality and innovation. Magic gives us free reign, which makes anything possible: for, not only do we find ourselves out of the proverbial box, but the box ceises to exist entirely.


The final sentence here actually refers to that phrase "think outside the box". If the box represents the ordinary and the outside of the box represents the extraordinary or non-ordinary, this means we have another either-or, a binary opposition, if you are one then you cannot be the other, which is actually a concept in a box, so you are still there, in that box. The paradox cannot be resolved unless you realise there is no box - boxes are things your mind creates, but your mind can do anything, so it can also make the box disappear, make it not exist any more. Then anything is possible and there is no paradox: ordinary can be extraordinary and extraordinary can be ordinary. 

rosepetal, thanks for sharing your beautiful poem. When I first started writing, just like many other writers I'm sure, it was poetry. And even after I transitioned into prose, I don't think I've completely let go of those poetic roots and beginnings. Recently, I've been writing about a character who is a Warrior-Poet. Warrior-Poets are a special "class" of people who chase after dreams and visions, turning them into reality. Their protectress is the Goddess-Poetess, whose unseen presence guides their footsteps through all dangers and whose divine words soothe their souls and inspire their visions. With a sword in their hand, they battle nightmares; with a song in their heart, they compose poetry. Here is the "rulebook" for Warrior-Poets, words coming from the Goddess-Poetess herself - ten "rules" which guide their life:


1. A poem should not describe reality: leave facts to historians.


2. You cannot compose a poem if you have not lived it first.


3. A poem has the power to transform lies into truth, visions into reality, and death into life.


4. A poem is the temple of your soul: do not enter without a sacrifice.


5. You may lose your life today, but a poem never dies.


6. A poem’s meaning is unlocked with the heart; at the same time, it is the key which unlocks the heart.


7. A poem contains words, but is not bound by them; it is composed not only of words, but also of silence.


8. A poem is like a reflection in water: a changeful image underneath which lies an unknown depth.


9. In a poem, there is no victory, there is no defeat: those are just words.


10. The final poem has not yet been composed.

I am enjoying reading everyone's thoughts about boxes, poetry, and magic!



I wanted to offer a few thoughts about magic -- in regards to Adam. Remember when Adam gave his monologue before "A Change is Gonna Come" at The Music Box at the end of the Glam Nation tour? He spoke about how there are always people out there who can give you a list of reasons of how unworthy you are, and how you need to change yourself, and how "you're never gonna fuckin' make it." In Adam's reply (words and song and attitude) was a kind of manifesto, words to live by. One of the things I love about Adam is how he has never failed to live up to his principles. He has had many opportunities to sell out in the four years since then, and still you often see calls for him to do so. Yet never once has he failed himself.

Though we wouldn't know it for another year, when the Queen + Adam journey really began at the EMAs, out there Adam had an unlikely but perfect match. Two old guys who were constantly bombarded about their own unworthiness. At best, they were long past their shelf life, the critics said. At worst, money-grubbing oldsters without the wit to realize no one wanted to hear them anymore.

But like all great artists, Brian, Roger, and Adam failed to respond to the voices. Instead, all responded to a deep inner voice that told them how strong and brave they could be. Because failure was a possibility. What if the critics were right? Did anyone else hold their breath when the tickets for this tour went on sale, hoping the boys knew what they were doing?

Somehow, for great artists, the future never stops glowing with possibility. It would have been the path of least resistance for Brian and Roger to live in the past as far as their music is concerned. Accept what the voices said about embracing their past hurt and pain, or contenting themselves with memorializing their past glories and accomplishments. But the truth is that there are ghosts who we may love but can no longer be part of who we are. You can remain in the past among those lost souls whose best years are behind them, or move forward to explore what life has to offer now.

As for Adam, there was any one of a hundred ways he could have choked on this collaboration! There are those who follow the numbers and believe there is a formula for success, a way to build a Frankenstein's monster in a great lab in some studio. If only we could find it! Maybe those people are even right. But Adam is not one of those people. For him, there's something magic in our dreams, the creative power of the imagination, and the deeper vision of who we can be. Has Adam not been telling us this from the beginning and continued to tell us this from every platform he gets?

The real magic is hope within our own hearts and souls.

Might just be a sentimental morning, but this made me well up:


Happy for you, amazed that once again Adam, his philosophy, the way he lives his life, has been the conduit for another person's self acceptance.  There are so many messages out there that tell us we are not worthy, or present an image of something we can never attain, or give negative input that it is sometimes an onerous journey to self acceptance.  Good on you for breaking through, your life will be better for it, imo.  And P.S., you ARE worthy.  Of it all.  Of others' love. Of love for yourself.  Of happiness.  Of acceptance.

I'm still working on that forgiveness thing, but I believe there is magic there like you do.  And another form of magic is to give another person, through your interest, through kindness, through support, through forgiveness... to give them positive, non-judgemental acceptance.  It's a gift we all love to receive, and there is as much reward, imo, in giving it to others.  Another Adam trait, imo.